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The most common mistake leaders make is throwing a technical solution at an adaptive challenge.

Erik van de Loo, Insead

Do you know why some trees can grow much larger than others? They have a habit of developing aerial roots. 

They’re a contradiction in terms: roots aiming to hit the ground but hanging in the air from branches. Their purpose is to help trees adapt and thrive in various environments, including unstable soil or limited space. A leader trying to solve an adaptive challenge is similar to an aerial root in many ways. 

What’s an adaptive challenge? A complex situation that requires expanding your leadership capacity, not just applying existing knowledge or resources. You need to navigate in-between states while longing to find a grounded and fixed solution. It requires stretching beyond your existing capabilities, searching for new anchors while staying stable and connected to the organization’s core. Working through adaptive challenges is like growing aerial roots: without them

It’s one of the most frustrating tasks without a blueprint. However, there’s a way through it. Just like aerial roots: it requires both horizontal and vertical exploration.

Phase 1: Understanding the Terrain

We begin by exploring the unique nature of your adaptive challenge and why it requires a different approach. Together, we’ll examine why conventional solutions are not sufficient and create space for new possibilities to emerge.

Getting familiar with not having a clue. Because that’s the nature of adaptive challenges.

A PROVEN FRAMEWORK FOR ADAPTIVE CHALLENGES

Phase 2: Comprehensive Analysis

We’ll systematically map your challenge across three critical dimensions:

  • Role Analysis: Clarify your unique position and sphere of influence

  • Task Analysis: Distinguish between what needs technical solutions versus adaptive responses

•Stakeholder Analysis: Understand the complex web of relationships and interests at play

Phase 3: Expanding Leadership Capacity

This phase focuses on broadening your capacity to lead through complexity:

  • Identifying unconscious patterns that may be constraining your leadership capacity

  • Strengthening your presence as a leader and expanding your range of responses in high-pressure situations

  • Working with a thoughtfully chosen ancient story to develop new dimensions of your leadership capacity

Phase 4: Strategic Implementation

We’ll create a customized roadmap to:

  • Optimize your leadership role for greater impact

  • Align your approach with the complexity of your challenge

  • Develop sophisticated stakeholder strategies

WHY THIS APPROACH IS EFFECTIVE

Adaptive challenges require expanded leadership capacity. Rather than simply applying familiar frameworks, this process systematically broadens your capacity to navigate complexity with greater skill and confidence. You’ll not only address your current challenge but also develop the leadership capacity to thrive in an increasingly complex world.

WHO THIS SERVES

This program is designed for experienced leaders who:

  • Face a complex challenge that hasn’t responded to standard approaches

  • Value deep, thoughtful work over quick fixes

  • Are open to examining their own leadership patterns as part of the solution

  • Want to expand their leadership capacity for handling complex challenges

Ready to develop a more sophisticated approach to your adaptive challenge?

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Goals

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Specifications

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